Decoy



Aug. 12, 1941.

I P. F. K EAYS 2,252,262

DECOY Filed'Nov. 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l a I /4 In uentor Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT omcs , 'DEGOY Parke Keayss, Broken Bow, Nebr'. Application November 28, 1940', Serial No; 367,662 i 101. 43-3) My "invention relates to improvements in decoy ducks for hunting purposes and the principal object in view is to provide an inexpensive, lightweight, device of this character which will not sink and is collapsible into compact form for A reference to the drawings accompanyingand forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of th preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in bottom plan,

Figure'B is 'a view in longitudinal section,

Figure 4 is a view in transverse sectiontaken on a line 4-4 0f Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 5 is a view in coy collapsed.

Referring to the drawings by; numerals, my improved decoy duck, in its preferred embodiment, comprises-an elongated rectangular base panel I preferablyof light,strongwood,-such as white pine, having suitably secured fiat against the bottom thereof and centered thereon a slightly shorter rectangular cork panel 2 of substantially the same width as said bottom and for adding buoyancy to the structure.

A pair of keepers 3 of suitable heavy gauge, galvanized wire are provided at opposite ends of the base panel I, respectively, each including a guide stretch 4 extending transversely of the base along the related end of said panel I from the approximate center of said panel to one and the same side of the panel in spaced relation to said end. Each keeper 3 has an inner staple-like end bent up thereupon to form a vertical stop 5 and then inwardly over the said panel I, as at 6, and downwardly through said panel, as at 'I', with its terminal clinched under the panel as at 8. Each keeper 3 is provided with an outer upwardly bent end 9 suitably secured to said panel I. Between the stops 5 and ends 9 the keepers 3 throughout the length of the stretches 4 are upwardly bowed. The purpose of the described keepers will presently appear.

A frame l I, of galvanized iron wire, having the form of the outline of a duck is slidably mounted on said keepers 3 by means of end loops I2 thereon through which the keepers extend. The

rear elevation of the dearrangement of the keepers 3 and frame is such that, as shown in Figures Band 4, said frame may be swung upwardly on the, keepers '3 with its loops 12 against the stops 5 into upstanding position in substantially the longitudinal center of said panel I and to extend along the same, or, the loops I2; may he slid along the keepers and upwardly on the ends 9 so that said frame may be swung down into substantially horizontal positionover said panel I as shown in Figure 5.- In the upwardly swung, or upstanding, position of the frame I I, the bowed stretches 54 of the keepers 3 yieldingly block slidingof the loops I2 away from thestops 5.

A sheet of water-proofed, cloth I3 is stretched over, the frame I l and down around thesides of said panel I underneath the panel 2 with its edges stitched together, as at M, in the-longi tud'inal center .of said panel}, said cloth 'being sbr' ilichejdaround the front portion of the frame, asatlS, the arrangement, in this instance-being such that in the upstanding positionof the frame J! :said cloth is stretched taut and unfolded inxt'ent-like form over said panel I as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The cloth I3 is printed so thatin the stretched or unfolded condition thereofit simulates the body of a swimining -duck. fl The" cloth l3, or 'cover, at the back'of the frame Il may be left open and said cloth may be fastened to the sides of the base panel I by tacks l6. Adjacent the front of the device is a triangular piece of Water-proofed cloth I! having a lower edge secured to the top of the base panel I, as at I8, and side edges I9 folded against and stitched, as at 20, to the cloth l3 so that when the cloth, or cover, is unfolded and stretched taut in body forming shape, said piece I'I forms a partition which seals the front of the body against leakage of water thereinto.

As best shown in Figure 5, when the frame II is folded down over the base panel I, the cloth I3, or cover, is permitted to collapse from its stretched unfolded condition so as to be folded down against said panel I over said frame II. As will be obvious, the frame H is designed to fit tight against the cloth l3 in the upstanding position thereof and said cloth in its taut bodyforming condition follows the contour of the frame I I whereby said cloth hugs said frame and frictionally maintains the same in upstanding position.

My invention comprehends providing cloth pieces, or covers, l3, printed to simulate different species of ducks, and for selective attachment, in the manner described, to the base panel I.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, an elongated rectangular base of buoyant material forming a float, a sheet of waterproof flexible material secured to the edges of said base for stretching upwardly therefrom to form a body simulating that of a fowl, said sheet being collapsible from stretched condition to fold down on said base, means to stretch said sheet comprising a manipulative frame member swingable on said base into upright position beneath said sheet, said member conforming in shape to the outline of said body, said sheet being detached from said base at one end of the latter to provide an opening therein for access to said member, and a flexible member attached at its edges to said base and sheet adjacent the opposite end of said base and forming a partition in the rear of the front of said body acting to, seal the front of the body against leakage of water thereinto.

2. In a device of the class described, an elongated rectangular base of buoyant material forming a float, a sheet of waterproof flexible material secured to the edges of, said base for stretching upwardly therefrom to form a body simulating that of a fowl, said sheet being (:01- lapsible from stretched condition to fold down on said base, and means to stretch said sheet comprising a manipulative frame member conforming in shape to the outline of said body, said member being pivotally and slidably mounted on said base for manipulation into upright position in the longitudinalcenter of the base and also for manipulation at one side of the base to fold the same down over th base within the confines of the latter.

3. In a device of the class described, an elongated rectangular base of buoyant material forming a float, a sheet of waterproof flexible taut comprising a single strand wire frame conmaterial secured to the edges of said base for stretching upwardly therefrom to simulate the body of a fowl, and means to stretch the sheet taut comprising a manipulative single strand wire frame conforming in shape to the longitudinal outline of the breast, head, neck and back of the fowl and pivotally mounted on said base for swinging into upright position beneath said sheet.

4. In a device of the class described, an elongated rectangular base of buoyant material forming a float, a sheet of waterproof flexible material secured to the edges of said base for stretching upwardly therefrom to simulate the body of a fowl, and means to stretch the sheet forming in shape to the outline of said body,

' and means to mount said fram on the ends of the base for swinging into upright position in the longitudinal center of the base beneath said sheet and for sliding movement to one side of said base for swinging from upright position down onto the base, said means comprising a pair of rodlike keepers secured to the ends of th base, and eyelets on said frame slidably and pivotally mounted on said keepers.

5. In a device of the class described, an elongated rectangular base of buoyant material forming a float, a sheet of waterproof flexible material secured to the edges of said base for stretching upwardly therefrom to simulate the body of a fowl, means to stretch the sheet taut comprising a single strand wire frame conforming in shape to the outline of said body, and means to mount said frame on the ends of the base for swinging into upright position in the longitudinal center of the base beneath said sheet and for sliding movement to one side of said base for swinging from upright position down onto the base, said means comprising a pair of rod-like keepers secured to the ends of the base, and eyelets on said frame slidably and pivotally mounted on said keepers, the keepers having ends forming stops for limiting sliding of said eyelets in one direction and being provided with intermediate bowed portions for blocking sliding of said eyelets in the opposite direction.

PARKE F. KEAYS. 

